Yesterday I sent my first full manuscript off.  I'd actually sent a full out once before, to an agent who liked my idea but hadn't read anything yet ... and then sent me a "thanks but no thanks" four days after receiving it.  I'm counting this as my first full because this is the first time someone's actually READ my work and then wanted to read more. :O  Other than my beta readers, of course.  What makes it even more shocking for me is that it's actually a PUBLISHER who requested the whole thing!  A small press, but still - SOMEONE LIKED MY WORK!!!!

Now, two years worth of rejections have tempered my enthusiasm somewhat and my expectations greatly.  My enthusiasm thinks it cool.  My expectations are that it will turn out to be rejection #50.  Yes, 50.  I've been keeping track on QueryTracker.

So if this novel actually gets published, I'm going to frame the email and mount it next to the most ironic piece of feedback I've ever gotten.  This happens to be a critique I received on a children's story that I entered into a writing contest.  So far this piece of work has received three critiques that scored in the 90s and the aforementioned one that scored a 74.  That judge REAMED me for writing an unrealistic story.  So why am I going to frame it?  Because that unrealistic story was in actuality the wacky stuff my father did while growing up on the farm.  Yes, my "unrealistic" story was a true story.  The judge hated it so much that he/she gave me a "9" on "Mechanics" even though he/she actually noted, "This reader did not note mechanics issues" and the other judge gave me a "10".  Which proves two things to be true: 1) You really just can't please some people and 2) Truth really is stranger than fiction.

But no time to rest on my laurels.  I've still got my current WIP to finish - I'm hoping by the middle of July so I could potentially pitch it at the PNWA conference.  Not that I'd be ready to actually send it out at that time.  The last two years have taught me that a manuscript needs to be as polished as possible before it goes out, and that probably won't be until October.  But, hey!  At least I'd have a list of people who would actually be looking for it instead of just cold-querying.

So, enough for this post.  I need to de-fry my brain after two days of straight editing and a four-hour round trip in stop and go traffic - while serenaded by my power-steering belt that screamed every time I put the car in neutral - journey to drop my mother off at the airport.  It's Friday night and I'd grab a margarita or beer but I'm on a diet.  I guess video games will just have to suffice.

Ciao!